A man who famously had his penis cut off by his wife whilst he slept had a bizarre career change after it happened.
John Bobbitt’s life changed in 1993 after his wife, Lorena, cut his penis off with a kitchen knife.
The pair became household names as the case was publicised across America, and breaking out globally. Various news outlets and tabloids covered the shocking case.
Lorena, who now goes by her maiden name of Lorena Gallo, ended up never going to prison after pleading temporary insanity.
Lorena Bobbitt / Gallo whilst on trial (Consolidated News Pictures via Getty Images)
Gallo claimed she cut off Bobbitt’s penis due to his sexual assault of her, which led to his arrest on charges of ‘marital sexual assault’.
He pled not guilty and was later acquitted of the crimes.
Bobbitt would later have his penis re-attached in a nine hour surgery, and go on to star in a pornographic film directed by Ron Jeremy.
The film, titled John Wayne Bobbitt: Uncut, happened after Bobbitt met Jeremy at a party.
Bobbitt later said in an interview with Vanity Fair: “A porno seemed like the best way to show my penis worked.
The VHS Box cover of the pornographic film (Leisure Time Communications)
“Only it wasn’t all-the-way healed yet. I realize now that that was the point.”
Bobbitt almost missed the premiere because he was convicted of a misdemeanour battery against his girlfriend in 1994, Kristina Elliott, resulting in him being sentenced to 60 days in jail.
The film was widely slammed, with Vice saying regarding the decision to film a porno:
“He gets his dick cut off and makes a porno, thinking someone really wants to see that.
“The cover even reads, “Ever since all this happened, all everyone wants to see is my penis.”
“If Ron Jeremy is your director and he’s feeding you that line of horsesh*t, then you’re an idiot and deserve a Frankenc*ck.
John Bobbitt during the trial (POOL via Getty Images)
“How long before this guy fades back into obscurity?”
The case surrounding John Bobbitt and his ex-wife Lorena will find renewed discussion in the UK media – as a documentary is set to air this evening on ITV.
Titled I Cut Off His Penis: The Truth Behind the Headlines, it features interviews with Lorena and looks at other cases around the world.
It focuses on the psychological drive that causes someone to commit the act, but is centred predominantly around the case of Lorena and John.
She says in the interview, according to Mail Online: “The escalation of abuse was not only physical – there were bruises on my arms, on my legs, shoulders, on my face – and it escalated to the point that I was raped”.
She claimed she was ‘trapped’ and ‘scared’, saying: “He told me: ‘No matter where you go I’m always going to find you.’ How can you leave like that”.
I Cut Off His Penis: The Truth Behind The Headlines airs on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm tonight.
Featured Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
